servile; subservient; obsequious; slavish; self-abasing; grovelling
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
student preparing for or taking examinations (usu. entrance exams); test-taker
academic background; academic credentials; academic record
(one's) older brother; lad; sonny
satisfaction; pride; one's strong point; one's forte; regular customer; regular client
the other day; previously; last time; last (Sunday, summer, etc.); previous (e.g. mayor, chapter)
pride (in one's achievements, possessions, etc.); self-praise; boast
poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at); not one's cup of tea; not one's favorite
to be pretentious; to put on airs; to show off
(time of) one's childhood; when one was a child
to take (someone) with one; to bring along; to go with; to be accompanied by
river; stream; River; the ... river
to turn up; to roll up (e.g. sleeves); to do over and over again; to do relentlessly; to stage a comeback (against) (in mahjong, horse racing, etc.); to come from behind
they; those guys; those fellows
kappa; mythical water-dwelling creature; excellent swimmer; cucumber; cucumber sushi wrapped in nori
powerful; strong; forceful; reassuring; encouraging
nod; inclination of the head
mythical ball inside the anus that is sought after by kappa
taste (in fashion, music, etc.); sense (e.g. of humour); flair
occasionally; once in a while; now and then
peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
to thrust (something) into (something); to cram; to plunge into; to charge into; to delve into (a matter); to go into depth; to press (someone) about
tough; hard; determined; strong-minded; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe
to firmly tighten (e.g. around neck, throat); to constrict; to strongly press (someone); to crack down on; to settle accounts
necessary; needed; essential; necessity; need; requirement
that is so; that is right; it looks to me; people say that; it is said that; I hear that
for; for the sake of; to one's advantage; because of; as a result of
putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end; getting one's priorities backwards
lesson; class; teaching; instruction; classwork; schoolwork
kickboard; flutterboard; float
probably; likely; perhaps; a lot of; much; many
just barely; only just; at the very limit; at the last moment
always; constantly; at all times; habitually
change to ...; becoming ...; making into ...; -ization; -ification
related to; in relation to
danger; peril; hazard; risk
to accompany; to go hand in hand with; to be consequent upon; to be accompanied by; to bring with; to take with
girl (usu. between 7 and 17); young lady; (arch.) female between 17 and 20 years old (ritsuryō period)
useless; worthless; silly; trivial
destination (one is heading towards); goal
suburb; residential area on the outskirt of a city; commuter belt